Arashima Kofun Cluster

Overview

The Arashima Kofun Cluster is a group of burial mounds in the Aratori-cho and Kujira-cho areas of Yasugi, Shimane Prefecture, spanning the late Yayoi to early Kofun periods. Set on a terrace overlooking the eastern Izumo plain, it testifies to the powerful local chieftains who once held sway here. Designated a National Historic Site, it is a key place for understanding the ancient history of the San'in region.

Highlights

• ●Burial mounds bridging the late Yayoi and early Kofun periods
• ●Terrace setting overlooking the eastern Izumo plain
• ●A protection history from 1936 designation to 1999 expansion
• ●Traces of the ancient chieftain power of the San'in region

History

The mounds here range from the late Yayoi period into the early Kofun period, and are thought to mark the burial ground of an emerging power in eastern Izumo. The cluster was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1936, and in 1999 the protected area was expanded. Its long-standing protection reflects how important the site has been to the region.

Map

35.4297, 133.1986 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Head from central Yasugi toward Aratori-cho and Kujira-cho
2. 2Stroll among the mounds scattered across the terrace
3. 3Take in the eastern Izumo plain from the high ground
4. 4Return to Yasugi town and enjoy local cuisine

Did you know?

💡 The appeal of Arashima lies in how it preserves burials from the transition between the late Yayoi and early Kofun periods together in one place, letting visitors trace an era of great social change rather than a single moment in time.

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